A/n: To those who review/follow/favorite, Thank you so much for the support! I'm not deterred by the low review numbers, because I have Over 2000+ views! I am so happy. Enjoy the chapter. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon A Time.
Acknowledgements: Dear Rukia's Reflection- Thank you so much! I think that's the nicest compliment I've ever received. I love the show, and although I am nowhere near as creative as the writers, I do try. Again, thank you.
Apologies for any mistakes wherein.
Chapter V: Dealings in Death.
"Shit!" Regina cursed. She knew this was going to happen. Things were just going too smoothly for them to think there weren't going to be consequences. "Now we're on a rescue mission!"
"No, we're not." Killian countered. "I am."
"Hold on a second." Robin protested. "We came here on a mission to get you out. You can't just go face-off with Hades alone."
"Robin's right." David agreed. "Our best chance of getting Emma back is together."
"Maybe I'm not making myself clear!" Killian raised his voice. "You ARE leaving. This little reunion is over. I'm going to get Emma, and get you all the hell out of here before Hades kills you!"
"Killian, you don't have to do this alone." Snow said with a comforting hand to his shoulder. "We're a team."
"I appreciate the your efforts, truly. I've never been so fortunate to be the recipient of such selflessness." He lamented lowering his tone. His frustration and fear wasn't helping the situation. "This is my fight your highness."
"Wrong." Snow shook her head. "It's our fight. And we will fight for you."
Killian confessed quietly. "But this is my unfinished business. It has to be me, alone." Turning to Milah, he instructed. "Get them to the Charon."
Milah nodded solemnly. She watched Hook's handsomely stressed features as he walked further into the darkness, out of sight.
He was so different from man she used to know. Somehow that made her even more furious. They had missed their chance! They had just discovered their love, and her ex-husband took it away! She had unfinished business in the Underworld and finally knew what it was…Killian.
"Well," She sighed turning to the group. "You heard the Captain."
"You can't be serious!" Regina exclaimed. "We're going after them!"
"No, you're not." Milah replied with a growl. "Obviously you're used to breaking the rules, but I follow orders."
"But my mom is in danger!" Henry stressed. "We have to go after her."
"If your mother is worth that pedestal Killian has put her on," Milah spat, "then maybe she'll survive."
Snow squinted her eyes in realization. "You're jealous!"
"Of your daughter?" Milah scoffed. "Hardly."
"Of Killian." Snow corrected. When Milah rolled her eyes, Snow frowned.
"You're jealous of the fact that he'd rather fight like hell to be with Emma, than spend an eternity with you!" She observed. "Or maybe it's because he didn't come to the Underworld to save you-instead he moved on."
"You know nothing!" Milah shouted.
"I know darkness looks like." Snow revealed. "heartache, bitterness, and betrayal…the makings of a villain."
"Whatever you know or think is irrelevant." Milah brushed off the assumptions that hit too close to home. "Killian is going to send all of you back where you belong, and then we will be together again."
"Don't count on it." Regina threatened. "If you're not going to help us, then I think it's time you left." With a wave of her hand, Milah fazed away.
"Where did you send her?" David asked.
"Back to the Dutchman and with any luck, Hell." She answered. "Now, let's get find Emma."
Emma's lungs were on fire as she gasped for breath. She felt her heart race, and her cheeks flush as she wheezed, trying to get girt and debris from her throat.
"Un-believable!" A deep voice called out from the shadows. She watched as the seven foot figure in death blue skin waltzed around her conversing casually.
"I mean, I hadn't gotten that choked up since I had a hunk of moussaka caught in my throat!" He joked.
"Seriously?!" Emma breathed.
"I know right?" He chuckled. "Can believe that load of crap? Captain Hooky is real playa, playa from the Himalayas!"
"Who are you?!" Emma snapped, losing her patience.
"Oh, where are my manners." He feigned incompetence. "Name's Hades, Lord of the Dead, howya doin'."
"Since we don't have a guide, I'll have to teleport us back to the first place we landed." Regina told them all.
"It might slow us down, but it's better than nothing." Robin assured.
"Whatever you have to do, do it fast." David expressed wearily.
Without so much another thought, Regina summoned her magic, transporting them all back to the Storybrooke graveyard.
What they witnessed was Gold sitting at his son's grave, leaning his head against the tombstone, appearing battered and bruised. He sensed their presence, but didn't open his eyes.
"You look like you could use a Band-Aid." Robin remarked dryly.
"A hard lesson, I recently took to heart." Gold grumbled. At seeing the group, he chuckled. "I take it; things didn't quite go according to plan." He assessed.
"We found Hook, but now the savior needs saving." Regina explained as Gold stood.
"If Hades has Emma, we can be of no help to her." He said.
"You don't know that!" Snow protested with a glare.
"Actually, I do." He insisted. "Do you really think, that Emma is the first person to chase their lover to the Underworld?" he asked the pathetically naïve group.
"We have faced many challenges and overcome them." David stated confidently.
Gold eyed him as if he'd sprouted two heads. "This isn't the enchanted forest, or some quest into Camelot! This is the Underworld. A place where we clearly don't belong, so I suggest we go while we can."
"We can't just leave!" Regina defied. "I don't care what those pirating ghosts say."
"I'd heed their words, your majesty." Gold advised. "This is Emma's unfinished business, and only she can end it."
"But Hades can't kill her in the Underworld. It's the rules." Henry explained to them.
"Yes. She has to challenge him first." Gold confirmed. "That's the only way he holds power over her soul."
"Well good, there's still time to save her." Robin suggested. "Maybe she won't challenge him."
"I know their daughter all too well." Gold retorted. "She's headstrong, and she will fight him."
"What happens if she wins?" David demanded to know.
"She won't." Gold stressed. "If Emma challenges Hades, she WILL die."
"But she has magic!" Henry spoke up. "Dark and Light."
"It's not enough." Gold rebutted. He then scoffed gravely. "That sonofabitch…"
"I'm failing to see the humor in this, Rumple." Regina snapped.
"When I battled Pan, he warned me about this." Gold clarified. "I didn't realize it then, but the bastard was trying to help me."
"What did he say?" David asked.
"He said the dead didn't have power," He recalled. "They just harnessed it from the source and projected it back."
Regina closed her eyes in realization. "Shit."
"What is it?" Robin asked.
"Gold's right. She can't win." She told them sadly. "You can't protect yourself against…yourself."
"And that's who she'll be fighting." Henry finished. "He'll use her power against her."
"So Hades is going to trick her into committing suicide?" Robin exclaimed. "That's sick!"
Snow turned to her husband frantically, "David, we have to stop her!"
"I know, but how?! We don't even know where Hades is!" David replied, feeling helpless.
"He does." Regina said, causing everyone to face Gold.
Gold held up a hand. "I'm not stupid enough to go looking for trouble again. I'm leaving this world, NOW. Either you come with me, or you get left behind." He took out his dagger and sliced his hand.
Everyone waited, watching for any signs of the Charon. Nothing happened.
"I don't understand…" Gold replied as he stared back at his hand. "Why didn't I vanish?"
Regina smirked, arching a brow. "Looks like Hades revoked your get-out-of-jail-free card."
"Now, if you're done being an emotionally distressed teenager," Snow called out to him. "Maybe we can go save my daughter?"
Emma's eyes widened as he stepped closer to her, his hair consisting of a blue flames and matching his demonic eyes. "Hades…"
"Forgive me for dragging you away from a tender moment, but I just couldn't stand to here that Yutz spew his heart out anymore." Hades rambled on.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"I know you're a very busy woman, so I just have one incey wincey question; YOU THINK YOU CAN STEAL FROM ME?!" Hades thundered.
The ground shook beneath her feet, and fire erupted from the many volcanic openings surrounding her, but Emma didn't back down.
"Hook is mine, and I will NOT being handing over his soul." She threatened.
"Oh, you think you have a choice." Hades spoke with a cynical laugh. "He died by your own hands Savior."
"It had to be done!" Emma defended, standing up from the cold ground.
"If you didn't want him dead, you shouldn't have killed him!" Hades justified.
"You know damn well why she did!" Hook hollered from the entrance.
Hades rolled his eyes at the intrusion. "Killy my boy! How lovely of you to join us!"
"Let her go." Killian demanded. He approached quickly, helping Emma to her feet. "She was just trying to-"
"Another naïve attempt to rid of the darkness." Hades interrupted sigh. "Newsflash! It ain't gonna happen."
"Like hell it isn't." Emma mumbled, summoning her magic.
"No!" Hook yelped, stepping in front of her to put more distance between them and Hades. He knew few things about the Underworld, but he did know that Hades was immortal, and Emma was not.
"You can't kill him luv, and even if you could, it's not worth it." He advised quietly, pulling her closer to him.
"If it brings you back to me, it's always worth it." She whispered fiercely.
Hook touched his forehead to hers. "I love you Swan, but you were right. Maybe it's time-"
"Don't you say it!" She cut him off, not willing to accept defeat. "I can beat him."
"Not like this." Killian said.
"Watch me." Emma gritted. She summoned her magic again.
"Emma, wait!" Snow cried out. "Don't fight him!"
They turned to see the others flying towards them.
Emma couldn't believe all the distrust being thrown her way. "Really? You too?!"
"Mom, it's a trap!" Henry panted. "Hades wants to trick you in killing yourself. It's the only way he can ensure your soul never leaves the Underworld."
Emma turned to Hades, who pointed an innocent finger at himself. "Me? I would never." He admonished the lie.
"What the bloody hell happened?" Killian asked. "You were supposed to leave."
"We had to make sure you two were safe." David told Emma.
"And leaving is kind of a problem now." Robin told Killian. "Gold's blood didn't call for the Charon."
Gold emerged, heading straight for Hades. He stopped within a mere inch. "As long as he controls the Underworld, we aren't allowed to leave without permission."
"Nice to see you again too, Rumple." Hades greeted with a raised brow. I told you it would be soon."
"Well I'm not dead yet." Rumple growled through clenched teeth. Hades shrugged. "That doesn't mean I can't delay you, for all eternity."
Hades' leer was all the confirmation they needed. If they didn't do something fast, they were all going to remain here.
"You like making deals." Emma remembered. "Let's make one now."
"Emma, NO." Regina objected. "Making a deal with Hades is even more reckless than making one with Gold."
Gold cut her a glare, but didn't comment on it. Instead, he persisted "Time is running out."
"Indeed it is!" Hades nodded towards the moon. "Sunrise will be here before you know it. So kiss, hug, and let's get on with it."
"Emma, there has to be another way." Regina pleaded.
"We don't have a choice." Emma said. She turned to Gold who merely nodded. "I'll make sure they get home safe."
Hook came to her side. "Are you sure about this love?"
"Absolutely." She breathed.
"How benevolent you are." Hades complimented.
"If I make a deal, it's not just for Killian." Emma spat, glaring at Hades. "It goes for my family too."
Hades rolled his eyes. "I can't believe this. I offer a pinky, and you take the arm."
"So do we have a deal, or not?" Emma breathed.
"That depends, Savior." Hades shrugged. "All things come with a price, even love. Can you afford it?"
"Can you really bring him back?" Emma retorted.
Hades circled her like a vulture as he explained. "When a person dies in the living world, a body turns to ash, and all their good and bad deeds are erased. That is the only way, he can return to the living world."
"His half of the heart will have a clean slate. Just like Gold's." Emma nodded, trying to remember what the Apprentice said.
"Yes," Hades conceded, "with one caveat."
"Which is?" Snow asked.
"He will cease to know the life he had before." Hades expounded lightly. "It will be as if Killian Jones, deadliest pirate of the seven seas, never existed."
"WHAT." Killian frowned.
"But when Rumplestilzskin died, his memories didn't fade with him." Robin reminded them. "How is this any different?"
"Well, Rumple never actually died, did he?" Hades revealed with an eyeroll.
"Of course he did!" David shouted. "When he defeated Pan! We all saw it."
"He also was resurrected through dark magic and Neal took his place." Regina reminded them. "no rules were broken."
"But he died again when his heart went dark!" Snow recalled. Emma shook her head. "No, he didn't, we preserved his body…. and I took the darkness from his heart."
Smirking at Gold, Hades chuckled, "Other than Hooky over here, Rumple's the only one that's ever evaded death."
"So my only choices are losing him, or losing him?!" Emma asked, a bit distressed.
"What can I tell ya?" Hades lifted a shoulder . "That's the price you pay, for trying to steal from me." His last words held an edge of venom. "So do we have a deal?"
"That's not a deal, it's a double-edged sword." Hook yelled.
Hades taunted. "But isn't she the love of your life, isn't she more important than some ghostly existence with some nagging broad-"
"Stop!" Hook tried to interject, but Hades continued, turning to Emma. "Isn't he worth it Savior? Having him alive and unknown is better than not having him at all, right?!"
"Swan, no." Hook took her hand. "I'd rather die."
"Too late." Hades flippantly chimed in.
Emma shook her head, ignoring Killian's plea. "I can't leave here without you."
"Look, I really don't have time to bat this around!" Hades interrupted with vexation. "I got a business to run, clients to see, a meeting with the furies, countless judgments to witness, Cerberus needs to be fed, and I need an answer, like NOW!"
Emma shouted to the God. "At least let me say goodbye!"
Hades couldn't fight his annoyed groan, but he waved his hand for her to continue.
"Emma, think about what you're doing." Regina begged her, praying she would be level-headed for once.
"It was my decision to drag us down here. I will not let our family pay the price for it." Emma vowed. "Take care of my parents, and Henry. Be the savior."
Regina felt tears sting her eyes. "You really think I have what it takes?"
Emma smirked. "I know you do." She hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Emma. For everything." Regina whispered.
Henry came forward, pulling her into a death grip hug. "I love you." Was all he could muster through his tears.
"And I love you, Kid. You are truly my happy ending." She whispered. Henry sniffed. "This doesn't feel like much of a happy ending. It feels like goodbye."
Emma lifted his chin. "Henry, I want you to remember something. Have courage, and be kind. Because where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness…."
"There is magic." Henry finished. "I promise. I'll be a hero, I'll make you proud."
After a moment, they parted, only for Emma to be embraced by her parents.
"We're proud of you." David mumbled into her hair. Snow gave her a motherly kiss on the forehead. "Don't give up hope Emma. We will all find each other."
"I'm won't. I love you all, but this is the only way." Emma told everyone. "Now Go."
Robin took Regina's hand, giving Hook a brotherly hug. David guided Snow, Henry and the rest of the group away from Hades.
Gold glanced back at Emma. "You don't have to do this. I know you don't like to lose, but you're playing with powers beyond our control."
"I'm risking my life for you Dark one. Now's not the time for a lecture." Emma smiled sadly. "Make good on our deal, and get them home."
Gold raised his hand, transporting the group back to the beach.
Emma just stared at the blank space where they once stood, praying for their safe return. She didn't trust Gold, but she had faith she would find them. They always found each other.
"How sentimental." Hades cooed. Emma glared, feeling the urge to punch the shit out of him.
Killian touched her waist. "Don't do it luv. He's just trying to get a rise out of you."
"This offer is only going to last 3 more seconds." Hades cut in. He held up a finger. "Going once, going TWICE…!"
"Deal!" Emma took his hand and shook it. The ground beneath them started to shake.
Emma clutched her heart as she felt it being ripped from her chest. She saw her family disappear as the winds got stronger, and a blue aura surrounded them.
"Emma!" Hook's shouts could be heard as he held her in his grasp.
"I love you." Emma whispered. "I will find you, again."
"Don't count on it!" Hades shouted over the wind. Then, there are was nothing. Only darkness.
When she finally came to, Emma was disoriented. She stood up from the ground, frantically searching the barely lit cave. Hades wasn't anywhere around, and neither was Killian.
"Oh no…" She whispered, trying to discern if she were alive or still in the Underworld.
"Emma?!" Snow's voice called. Emma ran towards the freight elevator in time to see Snow lifting up the gate.
They embraced, sighs of relief and shock, filling tunnels. "Mom, is it…you?"
Snow nodded. "Yes! Come, everyone has been so worried. I was on my way home when I felt the ground shake."
They made it out of the library and onto the street, where Regina and David were running towards them. David engulfed her in a fatherly hug, tears flowing down his face. "We felt the earthquake and came running. Are you alright?"
Emma nodded. "I'm fine, I'm fine!" Regina smirked. "Welcome back. You've been gone for at least a month."
"Seriously?" Emma asked, and then she thought about the deal she made with Hades. "Where's Hook?"
David, Snow and Regina all exchanged pained glance. David finally spoke "That's the thing…we don't know."
A/n: Thanks again for the support! Next chapter should be interesting. I apologize for the insanely long chapters! It just irritates me to read a story that has 100,000,000 short chapters, rather than just 6 long ones. My goal is to tie up this story in 10 chapters. But we're already on chapter five and not even half way through! Maybe I can push it to 12. One of those lines I used was from Cinderella (2105) because I loved that movie.
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-R.